Wild About Smiles...

Pearly whites are just that, pearly and white. She doesn't look very excited here. A smile emerged about 30 minutes later when J introduced her to the prize cart. Your brother did an excellent job of showing you the ropes. Great job MG!

The Girl Effect...

Read the facts...

Take me out to the ball game...

"I have a sport. You wanna know what my sport is? It's called baseball". That, my friends, is our little mans' favorite line these days. He's happy to share it with friends and strangers alike.

Today was our first baseball game as sideline parents. It was interesting (read: hysterrical). The "Mets" have only had two practices and one of those was the getting-to-know-you night. Clearly the blue team had more than two because they knew what the heck was going on. The "Mets"? Well, they get an A for effort. All 14 orange shirts running across the field to pick up one little baseball. But aren't they cute in their orange shirts and baseball hats?
First hit of the season...
Giving us the thumbs up from second base...
J (on 2nd base) adjusting his helmet for the 40th time. He had to hold it up with both hands while running just so he could see where he was going. Oh, and note how the blue team is paying such close attention to the batter :-)
J got so upset with his teammates because HE wanted to get the ball when it came out (never mind the other 13 players). I'm not sure what exactly happened. I took this picture and next thing I know another player on his team pushed him. Then J proceeded to give him the big Charlie Brown full arm rotation wind up before the coach pulled them apart. Great. It's the first day and he's already talking smack on the field... This would be after the altercation when J proclaimed to our side of the field that "those boys are cheaters". The coach is trying to convince him they aren't (but that kid pushed my baby so if he wants to call him a cheater...JK...maybe). This is the part where Daddy wanted to shout THERE IS NO CRYING IN BASEBALL! Anyone remember what movie that was from?The Mets won the game (but so did the blue team--shhhh--don't tell J). This is one of those "we're all winners--no keeping score" kind of leagues. For now, we like it that way. And I'm sure you are all wondering what little miss did while her brother was becoming a baseball celebrity...
She ran around (while we chased her), ate suckers (while complaining about sticky hands), dropped her paci in the grass about 17 times and poured water all over herself from a big girl bottle. I don't think she's much of a baseball fan... one down...six more to go...I'm not sure I'm an outdoor sport kind of Mom. I'm really hoping he'll be a basketball kind of guy (AKA an indoor sport). I don't really like to be outside in 90 degree heat for hours at a time. BUT, if he likes it I'll always be there to cheer him on (even if I look like one of those Sweatin' to the Oldies girls by the end of the game).

VBS...AKA (God's) House of Fun and Complete Chaos

Vacation Bible School. What a week! Let's start from the beginning.

I'll be the first to admit I won't win the nomination for the best morning mambo category. Getting everyone up, fed, dressed, lunch box packed, bags packed and out the door by 7:30 is not my strong point. If I did it on a regular basis it wouldn't be rocket science. But I don't...thankfully. My early to rise children were not impressed and neither was the Mommy. My children prefer to lay low until around 9ish. By lay low I mean in their PJ's. Now, we did make it on time every day but we slid in on two wheels a couple of days. 5 days later the Womble 3 conclusion: it stinks. Hats off to all my working Momma friends.

VBS itself was great. Picture it: Me in a hula skirt and a lei every day. I looked ridiculous but so did every other worker there so it was OK. I was a tour guide for third graders while J and MG went to preschool VBS. They had a blast. J's age group came to the "big kid" assembly at the beginning and end of each day. It was so awesome to see him singing and clapping to songs I didn't even know he knew. He thought he was the stuff. As far as my group, did you know there is drama in third grade? I didn't...but now I do. Not the boys. They could care less. It was all girl drama. WOW!

Anywhoo, it was a crazy week but we had a great time. I desperately tried to capture J and MG in their matching t-shirts. I mean, how many times do a brother and sister wear matching shirts? What's a Momma to do other than whip out the camera? You can see for yourself how my efforts were rewarded...

Happy 2nd Birthday beautiful baby...

To my precious daughter...

Has it really been two years since I first laid eyes upon your precious face? Where does the time go? I know I'm going to say that every birthday from now until the end of time but someday you will understand. Someday I hope you will hold your own beautiful child in your arms and know exactly what my heart feels in this very moment.

Two years ago today, I snuggled close to an 8 pound 13 ounce baby girl and promised her my love for eternity. That baby girl was you, MG. It seems like yesterday you were wrapped in a blanket and now your own "bay-bay's" have taken your place on the sofa.

Turning two feels like such a milestone in the life of a child. No longer will you be 12 months, 17 months, 21 months. You'll be two. Two? My baby is TWO? A two year old baby girl who now has her own "children" to feed, stroll, bath and ultimately, love. The first time I heard you say softly to your bay-bay's, "Mommy loves you", I cried tears of joy. I must tell you that at least 20 times a day and now you share those same sentiments with your own little people. In 23 months of life, you've already figured out the mission statement of a Mommy: to love. Maybe it's not the mission statement of every Mommy, but it is mine.

MG, you have brought us indescribable joy in two short years and I know there is much more to come. With the flash of a smile or the sound of a giggle, you remind me what I was born to do. I was born to be your Mommy. I love you beautiful baby. I love you all the way to the moon and back again. Happy Birthday!

Love,
Mommy

International Adoption 101: the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval...

Five and a half years ago I jumped into the joys of motherhood. There were no requirements to take this position. Just show up with a baby in your tummy and you're in. We made plenty of preparations for his arrival (prenatal appointments, ultrasounds, classes, pediatrician interviews, etc.) but none of them were required of us. We went to the hospital, had a baby and came home two days later. The only requirement was we couldn't leave the hospital without baby in a car seat. End of story. Same thing with baby sister. No questions asked. Here's your baby. Hang out for two days. Let's take a spin in the wheelchair. Put baby in a car seat. Off we went. Have a nice life.

Well, friends, not this time. There is a massive amount of paperwork involved in international adoption. What exactly is required of us? I've been asked several times already so I'm going to enlighten you...

-Application packet to agency
-Application packet to homestudy agency
-Intent to Adopt Letter
-Two certified copies of birth certificates for the Womble 4 (tW4)
-Two certified copies of our marriage certificate
-Certificate of Profession and Income from our CPA
-"Homemaker" letter written by Mommy
-Financial Statement recording all debts and assets
-Letter of good standing from our bank
-Copies of last 3 yrs of federal tax returns
-Health Exams on tW4
-Full physical certificates from the MD who performed the exams
-City of ____ police clearance letter
-State Bureau of Investigation (-BI) criminal check
-State police clearance/background check for any state lived in last 10 yrs
-Child/Spouse abuse registry check
-Fingerprints of both Mommy and Daddy
-6 Letters of recommendation
-Copy of city water bill
-Residential History verification
-(10) hrs each of online adoption/parenting classes
-(4) Home study visits with Social Worker verifying our ability to parent an adopted child
-Passport applications and 2 sets of Passport photos
-Photos of our home, family, living area, home life, etc.
-Interagency agreements and confidentiality statements between agency and homestudy agency
-USCIS Clearance application

Once we reach this point, all of the documents are compiled to create our dossier (just a fancy word for adoption paperwork). All of the above listed information must be notarized by a notary public. Then the notary's signature must be certified by the County Clerks Office in the county of authority. Then the County Clerks Office must be certified by the Secretary of State. Finally the Secretary of States authority must be authenticated by the Chinese Consulate. When we have received the seals of approval from the four entities listed above, we send our dossier to our agency. Upon final approval from our agency, our dossier is sent to China for translation.

At this point the Good Housekeeping lady walks out on stage and stamps Mommy and Daddy with her big fat seal of approval. We brought two sweet babies home no questions asked. We could have been an ax murderers or crazies for all they knew. We're not...but we could have been. This one is going to take a little more effort but we're ready for the challenge. I'm checking them off as fast as I can. If anyone needs me, I'll be knee deep in paperwork until at least August. Well, hopefully July, but that might be wishful thinking. :-)

International Adoption 101: Enroll now...

I've decided after many questions about the adoption process I'm going to begin a weekly series entitled "International Adoption 101". Perhaps it will be helpful. Perhaps you do not care. Either way, the information will be here if you are interested. Most of you just want to know when she's coming home. I don't have an answer to that question though I wish I did. Special thanks to all of you who have been so supportive of our decision to grow our family. Your interest, love and encouragement means the world to us.

Father's Day Funnies

{Both conversations en route to church this morning}

Our plans for lunch:
J: What are we going to eat for lunch? Here are your choices: Sonic, Jason's Deli or O'Charleys?
M: Today is Father's Day, J, so Daddy gets to choose what we have for lunch
J: Why does HE get to choose?
M: Because it's FATHER'S Day
J: Well, when is it going to be SON-DAY?
M: Honey, today IS Sunday but it's also Father's Day
J: But WHEN is it going to be SON-DAY so I can choose? :-)

A conversation about camping (while driving down the interstate):
J: Will we camp over there? If we camp over there, we'll have to cut down all those trees
D: We won't camp there, J. We would camp at a campground
J: If we camp over there (pointing to trees bordering interstate) we would have to cut them down with a TRAIN-saw
D: A what?
J: You know, a TRAIN-saw
D: Oh yeah?
J: OR we could just find some beavers (You know, because we have so many beavers around here)

I love this kid. He makes me laugh like no one else. :-)

The gift of a Father...

My children are blessed to have one amazing Father to honor on this very special day. A Father who simply adores every single thing about them; both the good and the challenging. One who would rather spend his days in the floor or the backyard with his children instead of kicked back on the sofa. A Father who isn't afraid of changing diapers or the chaos of bath time. One who wants to be in the game instead of watching from the sidelines. A Daddy who tucks in his little man each night with a sincere prayer to, among other things, "please keep us all safe and healthy". A Father who has time to push a toddler swing for seemingly hours just to hear the giggle of his blond haired "goose". He does all of these things. Not because he has to but because he wouldn't have it any other way. There are many Fathers who would never dream of doing some of the things he does. I think he answers this best by saying... "They don't know what they're missing". Happy Father's Day honey! I love you... not only for who you are to me but for who you are to our babies. How blessed they are to have you for their Father.

J's song...

MG's song...

Girls Night Out...

16 years after meeting these girls, I can still vividly remember how it all began. I was 14 years old, trying to find my way around this new planet I had landed (AKA high school). I had spent 9 years prior at a small elementary/middle school in the county. I grew up with the same kids from Kindergarten to 8th grade with very few changes along the way. Then came high school. When I moved up to 9th grade, I knew the 48 kids that came with me. That was it. In a sea of 800 teenagers. Can I tell you I was SCARED TO DEATH? Those "city kids" were a scary bunch. They had known each other all of their lives and they liked it that way. Why in the world would they want to befriend someone new? Someone like me?

Second period--freshman year, I sat behind a girl named Rachel in Coach Thaxton's World Geography Class. I loved that class because of her and looked forward to it every day. I thought she was intelligent, witty and fun. I enjoyed talking to her and listening to her stories. She always had great ones to tell (even if we got in trouble for talking in the process).

As time passed I became friends with April, Rachel's best friend. Then I met Andrea in Sophomore Biology (who happened to be best friends with Suzanne and Shannon). The five of them were "city girls" who grew up together. I was the odd ball, and sometimes they gave me a hard time about it, but I still loved them.

12 years after our high school graduation, it feels just as it did back in the day. We've all graduated from college, joined the ranks of married life, acquired a mortgage and most of us have started a family. All by the ripe old age of 30. We've changed as individuals, enlarged our social circles but our commonality remains...four drama filled years of education, pep rallies, football games, cruising "the strip", great friends and many memories (both good and not so good).

I spent this evening reminiscing with these girls (sans Andrea) at one of my favorite places. Dinner was fantastic and we shut the place down. I don't think I've ever said that before so I'd like to say it again. We shut the place down. hehehehe. We laughed until we nearly peed our pants (well maybe that was just me). We remembered the days when our highest priorities were our friends, our wardrobe and who was cruising the strip on Friday night. We were reminded of things we had long forgotten and a few things we wish we COULD forget. Ladies, I had a great time on our girls night out. The adult conversation and comic relief were therapeutic for this stay at home Mommy. In my very best Shannon voice I'd like to say "Call Me". hehehe. Let's not wait so long to do it again. Hugs to all...L to R: Mommy, April, Rachel, Shannon and Suzanne
(Andrea, where the heck are ya?)

Go get yourself a frosty...YES, I MEAN YOU!

Go here. Watch this.

the Adventures of MG and the thirsty triplets...

(This is a true story)

Once upon a time there was a Mommy named Nonnie Gace. She had three babies who apparently were fraternal triplets. They loved to ride in the stroller all day and drink water.Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. Nonnie Gace pushed her fraternal triplets back and forth across the city until...she decided she was tired of pushing three "bay-bays" to and fro. So, she chose her favorite "bay-bay" of the trio and tossed the other two into the garbage.She returned to her favorite resting spot and shared the bottle of water with chosen bay-bay. Then she tossed the bottle into the trash with her other children. This is the last photo we have of Nonnie Gace. She looks very sweet but she is extremely dangerous. Do not let her innocent smile fool you. She is a danger to you and especially to your children. If you have seen this Mommy, please contact the Department of Human Services as soon as possible.

The Reply...

This morning Kroger Consumer Affairs replied to Friday's email. Boy, they so concerned about my experience, aren't they?

Dear Mommy:

Thank you for contacting Kroger. It is our goal to exceed customer expectations and when we don't live up to them, we do want to know about it. I have made the store manager and his team of associates aware of your comments so they can receive the feedback they need in order to improve in this area. Again, I am very sorry that your experience did not meet your expectations, or ours.

Sincerely,
A. R.
Consumer Affairs
Reference: 5383085

(Obviously, names have been edited...obviously)

Mmmmmm...

MG: Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy...
M: Yes?
MG: Nonnie Gace (that's what she calls herself) want M-M's
M: What?
MG: Nonnie Gace want M-M's (while signing please as fast as she can)
M: No, no M and M's right now, MG
MG: Ummmmmm...Nonnie Gace bay-bay wan M-M's?
M: What? You baby wants M and M's?
MG: Uh-HUH! Bay-Bay wan M-M's! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Bay-Bay wan M-M's
M: Nice try sister. Your baby doesn't eat M and M's!
MG: Uh-huuuuhhhhh! Bay-Bay luv M-M's! Mmmmmmmmmm!

I didn't give her the M and M's but I really wanted to. With a plea like that and a face like thisit's really hard to say no.

A beautiful day for a wedding...

Well, these photos stink. They are the kind of photos you get when you try to hold a baby with one hand and an SLR camera with the other. I'm posting them anyway to mark the occassion. J decided he would stand with his Daddy instead of going up on stage with Uncle Matt. I think that was a good move little man... because as you can tell he was a little bored...
That's all I have. I had my camera but I didn't take one good photo of anyone the entire evening. I'll be sure to post more when the real photographer releases the proofs. Thankfully there was someone there who actually used her camera. Congratulations to the bride and groom. We love you both!

Practice makes perfect...

Tomorrow, Uncle Matt (Daddy's younger brother) and Erika are getting married. Daddy served as a groomsman and J served as the ring bearer...

Here he is still sporting the Kroger stickers from this morning (given to him by the bag boy who yelled at his sister). We're picking our battles tonight.It's not looking well for tomorrow. They've been up there 3 minutes and already they're bored...The bride and groom running out of the sanctuary. This was the first time I saw Matt smile all night. I think it's safe to say he was a little nervous.And here comes Mr. GQ Womble strutting his stuff down the runway (I mean aisle) looking ever so handsome.

Dear Kroger,

I have been a faithful Kroger shopper for over 15 years now. My Mother shopped at Kroger when I was a child and I continued to do the same as an adult. I have always found reasonable prices, clean stores and well stocked shelves at the stores in our area. Customer service has never been a priority but I have tried to overlook that issue…until today.

Today, I spent over an hour and a half in your store without as much as a smile or hello from your employees. There was only one friendly employee in the store and I found him at the register on the way out. Let me explain my shopping experience.

Our first issue this morning was the deli. It is a common occurrence to wait at the deli. Today I timed it just to see how long we would wait. 5 minutes passed before anyone acknowledged my presence. They normally act as if we (the customers) are inconveniencing them and interrupting their duties behind the counter. Today, the employee behind the counter was busy with another task. She never saw me and that was understandable. However, the other three ladies standing behind the counter laughing and talking amongst themselves could have helped me but chose not to. Not one of them offered to help me. When they finally acknowledged us (though I know they saw us waiting) they motioned to the other woman (the one who was actually working) to help me. Normally, after I receive my deli items I allow my children to have a cookie from the “community” cookie package. Most of the time the package is left open on the coffee counter for anyone to reach in and contaminate. We have to retrieve our own cookie because, again, we (the customers) would not want to inconvenience the deli employees by having to personally hand a cookie to a two year old who looks forward to it every grocery day. You know, the cookies that children are supposed to receive from the deli because that is what the sign over the deli says…children get a free cookie?

I walked up and down the aisles with two small children (one of which was screaming at the top of her lungs). Not once was I asked if I needed any help by the many Kroger employees that passed me by. Not one time. After making my way up and down the aisles trying to find our groceries I finally made it to the register. Here I found the ONE helpful gentleman in the entire store. He unloaded my buggy and was very kind. I think he may be in Customer Service as that is where I see him most of the time. I wish I had noticed his name tag but at this point I was ready to get out of the store.

My buggy is almost unloaded, one of my children is screaming at the top of her lungs and the other is talking to the cashier while I am trying to get out of Kroger as quickly as possible. The cashier never spoke to me except with the total of my bill. He never acknowledged my son when he spoke to him, when he handed him the Kroger card or when he took it back. A mere thank you to a 5 year old would be appreciated. The grocery bagger practically yelled at my screaming child to “STOP THE CRYING ALREADY” and then proceeded to act as if he had done nothing wrong. He raised his voice to a customer’s one year old child to stop crying? Do you think that is acceptable? He never offered to take out my groceries nor did anyone else. It was pretty obvious that a mother with two small children and buggy filled with $160.00 worth of groceries might need some help. Not one person offered any assistance. Not ONE!

My husband prefers to shop at Publix because of their service. Up until today, I have always preferred Kroger because of their location and prices. I have overlooked your lack of Customer Service but not anymore. When an employee raises his voice to my child, that is the last straw. From today forward, I will gladly pay a little extra on our groceries at Publix for the wonderful customer service they provide. As a rule I choose to treat others with kindness and respect. I expect others will do the same and that does not exclude the businesses that I choose to support. Why would anyone support a business that treats adults (and their CHILDREN) with such disrespect?

If you would like to know why Publix is now my preferred grocery store I’ll be happy to share it with you.

1. They greet customers with a smile and a hello—every day and every time I walk through the door.
2. The deli employees are attentive and helpful. When you ask them a question about turkey or cheese they know the answer. They ask you if they can help you with something else. They politely offer you samples of different deli items and then ask you (and care about) your thoughts.
3. The deli employees like children (or at least they do a great job of pretending). They secretly ask the parents (sometimes with a sign or a whisper) if a treat is OK. Then they joyfully surprise them with a cookie. A cookie that has been sanitarily retrieved from the cookie box with a gloved hand and new parchment paper. No extra germs or diseases from other dirty hands attached. From a mother of two who has enough germs at her house, thank you Publix!
4. I am always greeted by those in the produce and meat department with kind words and a helpful spirit. “Can I help you find something today?” is always heard from their employees.
5. Each aisle is well stocked. If ever I look puzzled about something it seems an employee always notices and asks if they can help me.
6. If I no longer have room in my cart for such things as bottled water or large packages of drinks, someone carries them to the front, watches for me to come to the registers and carries them over to my lane with my other groceries.
7. There is always someone to greet me at the register, help unload my groceries, speak politely to me, talk to my children and help carry out my groceries to the car.
8. They do all of the above without expecting me to tip them when they load the groceries into my trunk. In fact, even if you do offer to tip they will not accept it. It is their rule that Customer Service is #1.

Unfortunately, you have lost a customer who, up until today, spent a lot of money at your store. I am sure you receive letters like this all the time and could care less about my experience. One family taking their business somewhere else is pocket change to a corporation like Kroger. However, if you continue to treat customers with such disrespect we will not be the only family taking our business down the road.

Regards,
Mommy Womble
Proud wife of one, mother of two and previously loyal Kroger customer (who will be sure to tell all her friends about this experience)

(I don't think I have ever done this before so today was my first official complaint with a business--letter submitted to Kroger corporate this afternoon---I have much more to say about it but I have a million things to do--this serves as "telling all my friends about this experience"--more about the idiot who yelled at my child later)

Some Babies Come by Plane...

I wish I could remember the moment I knew adoption was a part of my heart. I can't put my finger on a date or time because I truly believe it has always been there. I remember when I stopped listening to the Bambi book-to-record set because I was heartbroken that Bambi was all alone without a Mommy to protect him. I remember going to the theater to see the American Tail and crying through the entire film because Fievel Mousekewitz lost his family. I was 8 years old. 8 year old children do not go home and cry for a fictional Russian mouse lost in a new world...but I did. I learned quickly that others may walk in and out but a Mommy is always there no matter what. Even at 8 years old the thought of a mouse or even a deer without the love of a Mommy brought me to tears. I think back on those little moments and realize that even then seeds were being sewn into my heart. Seeds that are sprouting even as I type these words.

As of this spring, we are officially passengers on the slow boat to China. It is a slow boat but at least the boat has FINALLY set sail. It is MOVING and that is what matters. It feels as if we have been running on a hamster wheel FOREVER. Running. Running. Running. Working toward the finish line yet going nowhere. Not anymore. Big decisions have been made. Plans are in process. Paperwork has begun. Praise the Lord!

We have been asked numerous times why we would want to adopt. My first thought is always "Why NOT?" We have been blessed with two amazing children. We want to grow our family. We have the means and ability to bring home a little girl who might otherwise never experience the definition of "family". A little girl who was chosen to be our daughter long before the American Tail was ever written.

We are excited, anxious, relieved, overwhelmed and generally in a state of disbelief. After many years of believing adoption was in our future (and a few years of diverting from that plan through the trials of parenthood) we find ourselves right back where we started...with a heart for adoption and a plan to make it happen. Some babies come by birth. Some babies come by car. Some babies come by plane. It is irrelevant how they arrive within your family. What matters is how much they are loved when they do. We have plenty of love to go around in this family and we can't wait to share it as a family of 5.


I pray that all children will be loved for who they are, for no reason other than that they are.

I pray that all children will be loved as first best, not second best, and that they will be loved with an intensity that can move mountains, because life will present plenty of mountains that will need to be moved.

I pray that all children will have someone who will
....seek them, and only them, out of the crowd on the stage
....push them to reach for their goals and discover their unique gifts
....hold them accountable for their actions with love and dignity
....advocate for them through this maze called life
....explain the unexplainable, and
....smile when they walk into the room, just because they did.

Mostly I pray that all children will have someone who knows them well enough and loves them deeply enough to see the divine spark that is unique to them.

I pray that this be the birthright of all children throughout the world. And since the birthright can only be fulfilled by parents, I pray that each child, regardless of the circumstances of their birth, finds their parent and each parent finds their child.

Thanks God.
Amen.

(prayer from "The Complete Book of International Adoption")

the next Joe DiMaggio...

J's first t-ball practice was this afternoon. I stayed home with MG and the boys headed for the ball field. J was beside himself with excitement. I sent the camera with Daddy to take photos but he came home empty handed. "No one else had a camera out" was his excuse. So, instead of photos of our son at his first baseball practice EVER, we have photos of him in the driveway after he got home. He's playing for the Mets this year. He was so proud of his new hat, tshirt and "running the fastest-est". The very proud yet camera shy Daddy confirmed he was the fastest runner on the team. First game is the 14th. Let's hope he learns the correct order of bases before then. :-)

Hiiiii Bay Bay...

Little Miss Julia came to hang out with us today. She arrived bright and early at 5:45 AM wide awake and ready to greet the Wombles! J and MG were so excited to have her here. MG thought for sure she came over to ride around in the baby stroller all day. Numerous times she pushed it over to Julia and pointed for her to get in. You know, she never once dumped her out in the floor or ran her into a wall like she does her pretend babies. Thank goodness they put straps in baby strollers or she surely would have ended up on her sweet little head! Just kidding Rebekah. It didn't happen. You can breathe now. I must have heard MG say "Hiiiiii Bay Bay" at least 100 times today while waving her hand about three inches from Julia's face. Not only was she the Julia greeter, she was also the paci police. If it fell out MG was sticking it back in before I could even reach for it. Note in the photos that MG is holding both of their pacis. If she couldn't keep her paci in for the photo, neither could Julia. I'm pretty sure they swapped paci's (and germs) at some point. Sorry Rebekah--I'm not kidding on that one. Never fear my friend. I did take the time to wash it well after MG took her paci for a spin. I bet this is the one time you are thankful for my germophobia. :-)J had to get in on the action though he was not as interested in her as MG. He was more concerned about when Ms. Rebekah was arriving. Really, he didn't truly care about Ms. Rebekah's arrival. He just wanted to see Elizabeth. Who cares about the baby when her big sister is much more fun!
DISCLAIMER: no harm was done to the baby named Julia during the capture of these photographs. The "quack quack", cowboy, space ranger and T-rex may have given her a fright. However, there was no physical harm inflicted upon the baby named Julia who was in my care. I am not responsible for any emotional or mental harm brought on by her up close experience with the above listed pretend characters.